A motorist was fatally struck by a hit-and-run driver after getting out of a car in the middle of the 210 Freeway in Duarte early Monday, according to CHP.

The collision occurred about 1:30 a.m. in eastbound lanes just west of the 605 Freeway (map).

A stalled gray Toyota Prius was blocking a middle lane when the driver exited the vehicle, which was then struck by a big rig, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Another vehicle then struck the pedestrian, CHP Sgt. Elizabeth Van Valkenburgh said. The vehicle pulled over near the big rig, which had also stopped, but drove away a few minutes later, Van Valkenburgh said.

Witnesses provided a description of the white vehicle that fled, and investigators believed they had located the car, Van Valkenburgh said in an early morning interview.

A preliminary investigation indicated that the big-rig driver narrowly missed the pedestrian, and that the vehicle that fled had been trying to avoid striking the big rig when it fatally struck the driver.

The man who was struck suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene.

All eastbound lanes were closed for about 2 1/2 hours during the investigation.